Ref# Country | Ages (years) | N | Element(s) of nature | Nature interaction(s) | Outcome(s) | Study design (quality) |
25 Spain | 7–10 | 2111 | Green Space Blue Space Greenness | Accessibility Exposure | Emotional WB Hyperactivity Inattention Mental Health | Cross-sectional* NC (G) |
20 Lithuania | 4–6 | 1468 | City Parks Greenness | Accessibility | Emotional WB Hyperactivity Mental Health | Cross-sectional* NC (F) |
26 England | 8–9 | 52 | Nature Orienteering | Engagement | Self-esteem | Intervention* NC (F) |
27 Australia | 13–16 | 53 | Outdoor Adventure | Engagement | Mental Health | Intervention* NC (P) |
28 Australia | 12–18 | 36 | Wilderness Therapy | Engagement | Emotional WB Mental Health Self-esteem Depression Resilience | Intervention* NC (F) |
29 U.S. | 12–18† | 50 | Horticulture Programme | Engagement | Self-esteem | Intervention‡ C (F) |
30 USA | 13–18 | 100 | Wilderness Therapy | Engagement | Mental Health | Quasi Empirical* NC (G) |
31 USA | 12–15 | 68 | Parks | Accessibility | Stress | Cross-sectional* NC (F) |
32 England | 0.75, 3, 5, 7 | 6348 | Green Space | Accessibility Exposure | Emotional WB Hyperactivity Inattention | Cross-sectional‡ NC (F) |
33 UK | 16–18 | 120 | Outdoors | Exposure | Emotional WB Attention | Intervention‡ NC (P) |
34 Netherlands | 12–15 | 401 | Greenery | Exposure | Depression | Longitudinal* NC (F) |
35 USA | 13–18 | 221 | Wilderness Therapy | Engagement | Emotional WB Mental Health | Longitudinal Case Study* NC (F) |
36 UK | 12–15 | 25 | Woodland Education | Engagement | Self-esteem | Exploratory* NC (F) |
37 Canada | 11–16 | 17 249 | Natural Space Green Space Blue Space | Accessibility | Emotional WB | Cross-sectional* NC (F) |
38 Austria | 13–15 | 133 | Schoolyard | Exposure | Emotional WB | Pre-Post, Quasi- Experimental* C (F) |
39 USA | 9–11 | 92 | Natural Environments | Accessibility | HRQOL | Cross-sectional‡ NC (F) |
40 USA | 5–18 | 452 | Green Outdoor | Exposure | ADHD | Cross-sectional‡ NC (P) |
41 Germany | 9.4–11.7 | 1932 | Green Space | Accessibility | Emotional WB Hyperactivity Inattention | Cross-sectional* NC (F) |
42 Scotland | 8–11 | 276 | Green Space | Accessibility Exposure | Emotional WB Self-esteem HRQOL | Cross-sectional* NC (G) |
43 Germany | 14 | 12 | Outdoor Adventure | Engagement | Mental Health Stress | Intervention Pilot Study* NC (P) |
44 South Africa | Grade 10 | 76§ | Outdoor Adventure Education | Engagement | Emotional WB Stress | Pre-Post Experimental* NC (G) |
6 UK | 11–12 | 75 | Park | Exposure | Self-esteem | Counterbalanced Randomised Cross Over* C (P) |
7 Canada | 12–18 | 73 | Outdoor Adventure Leadership Experience | Engagement | Mental Health Self-esteem Resilience | Intervention‡ C (G) |
45 UK | 11 | 18 | Forest Schools | Engagement | Emotional WB | Intervention* NC (F) |
46 Israel | 15–18 | 94 | Wilderness Therapy | Engagement | Self-esteem | Intervention* C (F) |
47 Sweden | 3–5.9 | 169 | Outdoor Preschool Environment | Accessibility Exposure | Emotional WB | Cross-sectional* NC (P) |
48 USA | 7–12 | 17 | Park | Exposure | ADHD | Single Blind Control Trial* C (G) |
49 USA | 5–18 | 421 | Grass Trees | Exposure | ADD/ADHD | Cross-sectional‡ NC (P) |
50 USA | 7–12 | 96 | Greenness Trees Grass | Accessibility Exposure | ADD/ADHD | Cross-sectional‡ NC (P) |
51 Netherlands | 9–17 | 12 | Natural (Wooded) Setting | Engagement | Emotional WB ADHD | Intervention‡ NC (G) |
52 New Zealand | 12–18 | 8500 | Garden | Engagement | Mental Health Depression | Cross-sectional* NC (F) |
53 New Zealand | 11–14 | 108 | Green Space | Exposure | Emotional WB | Cross-sectional‡ NC (G) |
54 USA | Grades 3–5 | 337 | Outdoor Yard | Accessibility | Stress | Cross-sectional‡ NC (F) |
21 USA | 10–15 | 87¶ | Outdoor Adventure | Engagement | Resilience | Intervention* NC (G) |
55 UK | 8–9 | 25 | School Field | Exposure | Self-esteem | Counterbalanced Randomised Cross-over* NC (F) |
*Study design originally mentioned in paper.
†Survey used was designed for children ages 12–18, but participant age not specified.
‡Study design assigned by reviewer.
§Males only.
¶Females only.
Study Quality Assessment: (G), Good; (F), Fair; (P), Poor.
ADD, attention deficit disorder; ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; HRQOL, health-related quality of life; C, study design included control group; NC, no control group; WB, well-being.